Craving something bold, spicy, and ready in under 30 minutes? Say hello to Cheat’s Dan Dan Noodles! With a luscious, rich and nutty sauce powered by our signature peanut Rocking Rayu, this dish delivers all the comforting, slurp-worthy goodness of traditional Dan Dan noodles—minus the time and hassle. This recipe is perfect for those nights when you want restaurant-level flavor without leaving your kitchen. Grab your chopsticks and get ready to impress yourself!

A History of Dan Dan Noodles

Dan Dan noodles hail from Sichuan, China, a region renowned for its fiery and flavorful cuisine. The dish’s name comes from the poles, or “dan dan,” that street vendors traditionally used to carry their wares through bustling marketplaces. These vendors would balance baskets containing noodles, sauces, and toppings on either end of the pole, serving up quick and affordable meals to hungry customers on the go.

Originally, Dan Dan noodles were a humble street food, designed to be both convenient and satisfying. The classic preparation features thin wheat noodles topped with a savory and spicy mix of minced pork, chili oil, Sichuan peppercorns, and sesame or peanut paste. The result is a bowl that masterfully balances heat, nuttiness, saltiness, and umami—a true representation of Sichuan’s culinary artistry.

“For me, fusion is not just a blend of varying cultural cuisines; it’s also finding the unique similarities to recreate traditional dishes.”
Chef amy le

Over time, the dish has undergone countless adaptations as it spread beyond China. In some modern variations, the spice level is toned down (like this one), or ingredients like tahini are used to replicate the traditional sesame paste. Our cheat’s version stays true to the essence of Dan Dan noodles while introducing the irresistible nuttiness of our peanut Rocking Rayu. It’s a tribute to the dish’s rich history and universal appeal, made accessible for the busiest of home cooks and featuring everyday ingredients so you don’t need a trip to the Asian grocery store.

Also Read: Cheat’s Szechuan chicken

Dan Dan noodles ingredients rayu the tasty spoonful

Dan Dan noodles broth mid process rayu tasty spoonful

Dan Dan noodles serving time Rayu tasty spoonful — .

5 Reasons Why You’ll be making cheat’s Dan Dan noodles on repeat

Quick and Easy: Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish is your answer to busy weeknights. It’s so fast, it might even beat waiting for a takeaway!
Packed with Flavor: Every bite bursts with bold, satisfying flavors. Even without Rocking Rayu, the rich and nutty sauce holds its own.
Customizable: Adapt the ingredients to fit your preferences, dietary needs, or what you have on hand. Swap the meat for tofu, and you’ve got a vegetarian delight that’s just as delicious. Have children? Use it to add or disguise vegetables.
Restaurant-Worthy: Serve this to friends, and it might just rival your favorite Chinese takeaway. It’s impressive enough to earn a spot at your next dinner party.
Comfort Food Meets Gourmet: Who says comfort food can’t be elevated? This dish lets you channel your inner MasterChef while still delivering all the cozy, satisfying vibes you expect from a good noodling.

How to Cook Noodles to Perfection

Use Plenty of Water: Always cook noodles in a large pot with ample water. This prevents them from sticking together and ensures they cook evenly without clumping.
Salt the Water: Just like with pasta, adding a generous pinch of salt to the water enhances the flavour of the noodles, giving them a subtle depth even before they’re dressed with sauce.
Don’t Overcook: Follow the package instructions carefully and aim for al dente. Overcooked noodles can become mushy and won’t hold up as well under the rich, flavorful sauce.
Stir During Cooking: Give the noodles a good stir within the first minute or two of cooking. This step is crucial to keep them from sticking together as the starches release.
Rinse and Toss if Needed: If you’re serving the noodles cold or using them in a stir-fry, rinse them under cold running water after draining. This stops the cooking process and removes excess starch. For hot dishes, drain and toss the noodles with a drizzle of oil to keep them silky and separate.

Not a fan of pork, no problem! Why not try…

Crumbled Tofu: Press, crumble, and pan-fry for a protein-packed, plant-based option.
Mushroom Medley: Use finely diced shiitake, oyster, or button mushrooms for a savory, umami-rich alternative.
Lentils: Cooked and lightly mashed lentils provide a hearty, earthy substitute.
Ground Chicken or Turkey: A lighter option that still delivers on flavor
Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP): Rehydrate and season for a chewy, meat-like consistency.
Beef mince: Just be sure to get the lean stuff.

A note on ingredients:

Mince: For traditional flavour, go for pork mince. However, as mentioned above, ground beef, chicken, or plant-based substitutes like tofu or TVP work beautifully too. This really is a dish you can make your own and also keep creating on repeat simply by mixing it up each time.

cheats Dan Dan noodles with rayu — So quick, cheap and easy to make. A true crowd-pleaser of a hearty bowlful.

Noodles: Opt for thin wheat noodles, egg noodles, or even ramen. Fresh or dried both work, but fresh noodles offer a chewier texture that’s closer to traditional Dan Dan.

Broth: Use chicken, mushroom, vegetable, or even bone broth for a richer base. If you’re making the cheat’s version because it’s simple then stick with store-bought, but if you feel like being bougie this dish can really be elevated just by increasing the quality of the broth.

Mushrooms: Regular field mushrooms will do! However, Shiitake or wood ear mushrooms can add a boost of umami and texture. Rehydrate dried varieties for an extra flavor punch.

Soy Sauce: If using the miso, definitely choose a light soy sauce or light soy equivalents like tamari or liquid aminos. If not, then feel free to use the dark, more powerful soy.

Vegetables: I’ve added hidden carrot and a load of spinach to this to try and trick my son into eating extra veggies, You don’t have to add these two ingredients if you don’t have on hand or just plain don’t like them. You can also substitute many other veg, like Chinese greens, silverbeet, capsicum and eggplant just to name a few. Go wild, go crazy, make it yours! Just try to choose or prepare your veg so they will cook easily in a 10 min period.

Print Pin

Cheat’s Dan Dan noodles

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 40

Servings 4

A modern take on a traditional dish. This cheat's version of Dan Dan noodles is an absolute banger of a bowl of comfort food.

Equipment

1 large frying pan
1 saucepan

Ingredients

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Hoisin sauce
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp minced ginger
2 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tbsp smooth peanut butter
1 tsp white miso
250 grams egg noodles
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 cups spinach
1 cup finely grated carrot (optional)
500 gram pork mince
1 small diced red onion (or shallot)
2 cups chopped mushrooms (optional)
4 green onions thinly sliced
4 tbsp Peanut rayu
1 tbsp neutral oil (for frying)

Instructions

Mix soy, hoisin, vinegar, honey, ginger, miso and peanut butter in a bowl. If too thick, add a dash of water.
Fry the onion in a little oil until translucent, then add pork, carrot and mushrooms.
When the pork is mostly brown add the sauce and the spinach and cook until the moisture is gone and the mince starts to caramelise. (about 10-15 min)
Meanwhile prepare your noodles as per it's instructions.
Put your broth on to simmer ready for serving.
When the pork mince is cooked, add noodles and broth to a bowl, add the mince mixture and top with Rocking rayu and green onion. Serve immediately